Blogodarnost

Some people are upset over the name of a joint Russian-Nigerian Energy project, NiGaz

For those who are interested there is a Facebook group: Nigerians No Nigaz (kind of funny they put the offensive term in the name of their group).

Reuters LAGOS, Nigeria — Gazprom has inadvertently walked into an online racism debate with the announcement of its new joint venture in Nigeria — NiGaz Energy.

President Dmitry Medvedev and his Nigerian counterpart, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, last week agreed on the $2.5 billion venture to build refineries, pipelines and gas power stations in Africa’s most populous nation.

The name is meant to be an amalgamation of “Nigeria” and “Gazprom,” pronounced “nye-gaz,” but can be read phonetically as an offensive term for people of black African origin.

Portland’s Mayor Sam Adams should take the honorary title Mayor Tonya Harding.

Mayor Adams was elected using fraudulent means, lying about his homosexual relationship with an underage intern, Beau Breedlove.

Mayor Adams was involved in a mysterious traffic accident, plowing through two cars in a North Portland parking lot. Police officers at the scene declined to give Adams a sobriety test.

Mayor Adams is behind on payments on two mortgages. How can he be expected to manage Portland’s finances?

State Attorney General Kroger, concluding an investigation of Adams’ relationship with Breedlove, said he could not bring charges because none of the principals (including Adams) were credible.

My front porch is covered and posts hold up the roof (actually the second floor). There’s decorative wood around the posts that leaves a space inside, with an opening at the top. We heard some noises coming from inside for a couple days, so I got up there to investigate. I was expecting to find a squirrel. As I look into the opening a raccoon jumps up at me. I screamed and fell back almost falling off the porch.

Later the raccoon came out and sat on top of the post, just staring at us, as if she owned the place and we were the interlopers. She kept a watchful eye on our cat, who seemed completely uninterested in the proceedings. I put a piece of apple near the raccoon and she investigated it very suspiciously, but eventually took it with her back to the space inside. She came back out carrying one fairly large kit by the scruff of the neck. Some neighbors walked by and I showed them the raccoon. Later one of the neighbors came back with two of her children. I guess that was too much of an audience for the raccoons as they were gone the next day.

Isn’t telling people what they can wear in public itself debasing?
Sarkozy bans burqa

Silvia B. Franzoni, 78, May 17 2009, El Paso TX.

Courier-Journal

Donald H. Badger, 51, January 18, 2009, Tucson, AZ

Arizona Daily Star

Teresa L. Rose, 52, January 21, 2009, Cassopolis, MI

Elkhart Truth

Grace Crim, 52, January 9, 2009, Dayton, OH

Dayton Daily News

Gerald Inouye, 68, January 3, 2009, Waimea, HI

West Hawaii Today

Ray Strand, 56, December 17, 2008, Morris MN

Morris Sun